The BEST Episodes of Pokémon
Every episode ever - ranked by fan votes!
Last Updated: Dec 1, 2019
Network: TV Tokyo
A young boy named Ash Ketchum embarks on a journey to become a "Pokemon Master" with his first Pokemon, Pikachu. Joining him on his travels are Brock, a girl-obsessed Rock Pokemon Trainer, and Misty, a tomboyish Water Pokemon Trainer who may have a crush on him. Ash and Co. end up traveling through various regions, including Kanto, the Orange Islands, and Johto, and then enter the Pokemon League competitions there. Along the way, they run into many confrontations with Jessie, James, and Meowth, a trio of Pokemon thieves who are apart of an evil organization called "Team Rocket". But everytime Team Rocket try to do their evil deeds, they fail thanks to Ash and his Pokemon.
#1 - Pokémon! I Choose You!
Season 1 - Episode 1
After beginning his Pokémon journey, Ash is supposed to meet Professor Oak - a Pokémon researcher who is giving Pokémon to all the 10-year-olds in Pallet Town. Arriving late, Ash finds that all the Pokémon are taken - all except for Pikachu. After a harrowing misadventure together, Pikachu and Ash form an unbreakable bond of friendship.
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#2 - Island of the Giant Pokémon!
Season 1 - Episode 17
As our heroes and Team Rocket beat the odds by surviving the sinking ship, they are dragged into another potentially deadly situation when they are attacked by the ferocious Pokemon, Gyarados. One Gyarados becomes many and Ash, friends and foe are swept up in a tornado landing them in various locations on an island. Ash loses Pikachu and the Poke Balls containing Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. Jessie and James from Team Rocket, who land in another remote part of the island, also lose their Pokemon. Thus both Pokemon and their masters are left searching for each other on this strange island, inhabited by gigantic Pokemon. Where could this island be?
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#3 - Pikachu's Goodbye
Season 1 - Episode 39
The group come into a forest where it is quiet and peaceful. They notice a large group of Pikachu that Ash's Pikachu tries to make friends with. Ash scares them off, but Pikachu is later accepted when it dives to save a young Pikachu that was washing away down the waterfall. Ash starts to miss Pikachu as they hear a noise. Team Rocket successfully get all of the Pikachu in a net. Ash's Pikachu is the hero again as it chews a hole in the net and Ash and the group use the net they were caught in as something for the Pikachu to jump onto. Ash decides to leave Pikachu behind, but Pikachu doesn't want to. Ash refuses to keep Pikachu many times, but Pikachu persists until Ash realizes how much Pikachu likes him. He then let's Pikachu stay with him.
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#4 - The Battling Eevee Brothers
Season 1 - Episode 40
While traveling through the woods, the group encounters an Eevee that was apparently abandoned by a tree. They take it to its address in Stone Town and find it belongs to a little boy. He left it there because his older brothers wanted him to evolve it. Misty tells him to let his brothers know how he feels, but Team Rocket show up to get the food, stones, and the Pokémon. They find Team Rocket thanks to Horsea leaving a trail of ink and they recover everything. During the fight, the small boy proves his Eevee can fight well just as it is and tells his brothers he wants to keep his Eevee just how it is. They agree and let him keep his Eevee.
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#5 - Holy Matrimony!
Season 1 - Episode 48
The group walk by a missing sign that has a picture of James as a young boy. A limousine drives by and takes them to the estate where James used to live. They learn that his parents had supposedly died and James was entitled to an inheritance. Jessie and James arrive to collect this money, but soon discover that it was a trick to get James back and force him to marry Jessiebell. She is a girl who looks just like Jessie and tries to make James a gentleman. She attacks and chases him with a Vileplume and he eventually escapes. He catches up with Jessie and Meowth realizing that life is better free even though he isn't well off.
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#6 - A Sappy Ending
Season 3 - Episode 3
Ash and friends discover a forest where Pinsir invaders are causing heavy deforestation. Investigation reveals the root of the problem: Team Rocket is carelessly harvesting sap from a nearby wood, thereby upsetting the balance of nature.
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#7 - The Fire-ring Squad
Season 3 - Episode 31
Our friends have stopped at a Pokémon Center. Ash calls Professor Oak, he's going to send his Tauros back. Professor Oak says that's okay, but he wants to keep Heracross a while longer. Ash tells Heracross to do whatever the Professor tells it.Nurse Joy complements Ash on taking such good care of his Pokémon. Brock flirts with her, but she says she has to examine more Pokémon for the upcoming Fire and Rescue Grand Prix and she goes, leaving Ash wondering what the Grand Prix is.
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#8 - The Path to The Pokémon League
Season 1 - Episode 8
After receiving his second badge, Ash sets off triumphantly for Vermilion City. Along the way, they hear of a trainer named A.J.-a fierce-Pokémon-trainer who has never lost a match. Full of self-confidence from his own record of ten victories in a row, Ash heads directly for the gym to find his new opponent. When they arrive, a huge bulletin in front of the gym announcing, "This Gym Not Authorized by the Pokémon League" along with a neon sign declaring "98 Consecutive Victories" appeal to Ash's over-confidence. A.J. is on the brink of achieving his goal of 100 straight victories, after which he will embark on a journey to gather badges. Will victory fall on the side of Ash and his 10 straight victories or with A.J. and his string of 98? In the process, will Ash learn some important lessons about the bonds between Pokémon and trainer?
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#9 - So Near, Yet So Farfetch'd
Season 1 - Episode 49
The group stop in the forest where there is a Farfetch'd lurking around. Brock and Ash go to get some water and Misty notices a Farfetch'd. She chases it into the forest where the trainer of the Farfetch'd secretly switches bags. He is a thief who uses Farfetch'd to distract his victims. Psyduck escapes from him and gets back to Misty. Psyduck then guides them to the guy who stole her Pokémon. They have a battle with the Farfetch'd who surprises its trainer by showing it can battle by defeating Ash's Bulbasaur. Misty battles next with Psyduck. Farfetch'd strikes Psyduck on the head repeatedly until it's headache is bad enough and it uses a disable attack. The boy realizes his wrong and hands the stolen Pokémon over to Officer Jenny. He promises to lead a better life training his Farfetch'd and catching Pokémon rather then stealing them.
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#10 - Bulbasaur's Mysterious Garden
Season 1 - Episode 51
Continuing on their way, Ash battles a man with a Rhyhorn. The battle is tough, but Bulbasaur wins. Bulbasaur's bulb then starts flashing. They rush it to a Pokémon Center and discover it is going to evolve. Bulbasaur leaves his bed and is taken by other Bulbasaur to the mysterious garden where the Bulbasaur evolve into Ivysaur. The group manage to get into the garden behind vines and are watching the ceremony. Bulbasaur doesn't want to evolve. The Venusaur leading the ceremony gets mad at Bulbasaur and attacks it. Ash jumps out in front of Bulbasaur to save it and tries to reason with the Venusaur. Team Rocket float in and use a vacuum device to suck up all the Ivysaur and the Venusaur. Bulbasaur saves them and Venusaur agrees to let Bulbasaur evolve when it wants to.
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#11 - Volcanic Panic
Season 1 - Episode 59
Pikachu is swallowed up by Magmar's fire blast attack. Luckily, Pikachu had dodged it and was hanging on to the edge. Pikachu crawled back up and was safe from the lava below. Ash forfeits the match. Blaine congratulates Ash for making a wise choice, and directs them to the hot springs. Meanwhile, Team Rocket prepares freeze guns to freeze Magmar. They enter the arena to find Magmar, and they tell it that it's won a prize. They then fire at it, and freeze Magmar solid. As Jessie and James celebrate, Magmar melts through the ice. In a panic, they freeze over the entire gym. This causes the Volcano walls to crack, and lava begins to pour into the arena. Ash calls Charizard to throw rocks to block the flow of lava, but Charizard refuses to listen. Magmar begins to throw rocks, but it is no good. When Charizard sees the problem, it begins to throw rocks. Brock and Misty's Pokémon help, too. The flow is stopped, and Blaine offers another chance for Ash to win the Volcano badge. They battle atop the Volcano, Charizard versus Magmar. It is a tough battle, but Charizard prevails. Unfortunately, Charizard stops listening to Ash after the battle. Blaine gives a Volcano badge to Ash and they continue on their way.
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#12 - Beach Blank-Out Blastoise
Season 1 - Episode 60
Ash and friends are running to catch the last ferry off of Cinnibar Island, and just as they are approaching the ferry, they collide with a Wartortle, it was running to find help for it's leader, Blastoise. Wartortle and Ash's Squirtle, with the Squirtle Squad sunglasses, swim to the Squirtle Island. They find everyone on the island asleep, including Blastoise. Ash and Squirtle check out Blastoise, and hear a strange noise which puts them to sleep. Pikachu manages to wake them all up, and then they try to wake up Blastoise. It eventually wakes up on it's own, when the strange noise stops. Squirtle then notices something stuck in one of Blastoise's Hydro cannons. It is squishy and pink, and then it's ear sticks out. Then the noise starts again and everyone falls asleep. Team Rocket intrude on the island, hoping to catch Blastoise, but Meowth, the one who went to get Blastoise, fell asleep, they dragged him back, slapped him a few times, and threw him back. They then used their Gyarados grabber (I forgot to mention they came on their Mecha-Gyarados). They successfully got away, until they hear the noise coming out of Blastoise's shell. They begin to sink into the water but all the Squirtles and Wartortles save them. Back on the island Team Rocket chase the Squirtles and Wortortles around, and so Ash's Squirtle and Pikachu try to wake up Blastoise. They succeed, and guess what pops out? It's Jigglypuff! And Jigglypuff is blown away into the Mecha Gyarados. Blastoise successfully drives off Team Rocket, except Jigglypuff is still inside, luckily Jigglypuff is blasted out and lands on the island. Jigglypuff sings, everyone sleeps, everyone gets scribbled on. Misty is annoyed because the marker scribbling makes her look like a cartoon character, Ash chimes in, "Like that could ever happen!"
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#13 - The Misty Mermaid
Season 1 - Episode 61
On the way to Viridian City, Misty notices that Horsea isn't feeling well. She decides to take Horsea back to the Cerulean City gym to get a chance to swim around in their bigger pool. Her sisters get an idea to generate publicity for the gym by having an underwater ballet. To everyone's surprise, they picked Misty to be the star of the show. They begin the show. Misty swims around a little with the Pokémon as they tell the story. She swims into a hidden area for a desperately needed breath of air, and goes back to the audience. Then, it's time for everyone in mermaid land to go to sleep. The large shell closes on Misty, and gives her the chance to take out a breathing device while no one is looking. Team Rocket tie up the two sisters who were to play the villains, and replace them on stage. Jessie dressed as a male dancer, and James in a ballerina costume. They try to steal all the Pokémon, and are defeated by Ash and Pikachu as usual. The crowd believes that the entire attack was staged and applaud the show. The show was successful in generating publicity for the gym, and everyone is lining up to buy tickets to their next shows. Misty leaves Horsea and Starmie with her sisters, and the group continue onward to Viridian City.
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#14 - The Battle of the Badge
Season 1 - Episode 63
The gang arrive in Viridian City. They find the gym where Ash is about to battle, just as Gary shows up bragging about having ten Badges. He enters the gym just for practice. Gary's battle with Giovanni is quite easy, winning against Giovanni's Kingler and Rhydon with his Nidoking and Arcanine. Then, Giovanni decides to bring out a new Pokémon. Gary is defenseless against it, as it brings chaos to the whole gym. Meanwhile, Ash in carelessness flings Togepi into the air, as it lands with Team Rocket. While Jessie and James struggle to capture it, they eventually present it to Giovanni only to find Giovanni only wants rare and powerful Pokémon. Ash finds the gym in a wreck, as he wakes up Gary. Gary is terrified, as he describes this new Pokémon as truly evil. Ash goes in to compete to be totally surprised to find the gym masters are Jessie and James, as Giovanni had to leave for an emergency. The battle is intense, as the trainer is electrically shocked as their Pokémon get hurt. The shocks bring Ash to his knees just as he sends out Pidgeotto, who beats Jessie's Pokémon, shocking her. Meowth has a control panel to blow up the opponents' side of the playing field, but Gary bursts in to stop him. The match finishes and Ash wins. Jessie is completely fried. Then, Togepi decides to play with the explosion controller, and accidentally sends Jessie and James flying. Gary's cheerleaders do a cheer for Ash. Then, the group continue along. Realizing that Ash doesn't know where the Pokémon League is, they decide to head back to Pallet Town to ask Professor Oak and visit home.
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#15 - A Friend In Deed
Season 1 - Episode 80
Ash and the gang are going to find a place to eat. After a successful fourth win, Ash is getting ready for his fifth battle. He does not know who he is up against yet. His mom invades the kitchen inside the restaurant and starts making something for Ash. Her cooking is great, leaving the chef asking for the recipe. They all have a nice meal. Later as Ash is getting on the elevator to go back outside, a boy named Richie is rushing to catch the elevator as well. Ash stops the door for him and he gets on. They are going down, just as the power goes out. They are trapped in the elevator, but Richie has a plan to get Pikachu to power the elevator the rest of the way down. Once they get out, they hear an announcement that they have to get their Pokémon inspected by the Pokémon League or they will be disqualified from the competition. It is really another plan of Team Rocket to steal everybody's Pokémon. They fool everyone and get all the Pokémon until Pikachu shocks Jessie as she tries to pick him up, and so they reveal themselves. They successfully get away, but Ash and Richie chase after them. Ash decides to dive down the mountain, but Richie stops him. Ash becomes mad at Richie, as they continue the chase. They leap out in front of the van. James swerves aside, falling over into a stream. The van is still going and Jessie and Meowth are okay. Unfortunately, James was knocked unconscious by the fall. Jessie manages to steer them to safety. Later on Ash is sorry for becoming mad at Richie, realizing that his life was saved. The two boys camp out for the night. The following morning they find Team Rocket and the stolen Pokémon. Jessie and James wake up to discover them, and lock the door. They start driving away. Ash searches the bag for one of his Pokémon, but cannot find which ones are his. Pikachu finds Bulbasaur, but Bulbasaur cannot seem to penetrate the wall. Richie calls out his Charmander, which gets through the wall. Ash and Richie eventually succeed in get
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#16 - The Crystal Onix
Season 2 - Episode 7
While riding around the Orange Islands on his Lapras, Ash finds a mysterious message in a bottle, which leads the gang on a new adventure. Ash, Misty and Tracey travel to Sunburst Island, which is famous for its artists and glassblowers. They meet a struggling young shopkeeper who's seeking inspiration from a legendary "Crystal Onix." Having been unable to find this special Pokémon, the shopkeeper turns to our heroes. With Tracey and his observational Pokémon on board, they set out to fire up a new friend's creative drive!
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#17 - Challenge of the Samurai
Season 1 - Episode 4
Ash and Misty are now wandering through Viridian Forest. A Samurai challenges Ash to a battle, and it turns out to be Metapod Versus Metapod. After a short time, a swarm of Beedrill attacks, and Ash's Metapod is taken by them. Can Ash get his Pokémon back from them or will it be doomed to live its life without Ash?
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#18 - Who gets to keep Togepi?
Season 1 - Episode 50
The group stop at a Pokémon Center for a rest and get a message from Professor Oak who wants to talk to them. When they talk, he discusses Muk and offers Ash a Pokédex upgrade. Ash takes the upgrade and they are on their way. Ash and the group wonder about what could be inside the egg Brock has been taking care of since Ash found it in Grandpa Canyon; just as Team Rocket trick them and get the egg. They find them and fight for it. During the battle, the egg goes flying and Pikachu catches it. Misty takes it just in time to see it hatch. It is Togepi, and they all fight over who should keep it. They have a tournament and Ash wins it, but Togepi wants to go with Misty because a Togepi thinks the first thing it sees is its parent. Togepi first saw Misty and so, Misty gets Togepi.
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#19 - Showdown at the Po-ké Corral
Season 1 - Episode 65
Ash is there, and ready to take on anyone who challenges him. He's at the Pokémon League! He throws the Pokéball to begin the first battle, but the Pokéball is trying to capture Ash! He can feel himself being pulled in! No, he was only dreaming, and Mr. Mime had the vacuum cleaner to his head. So, he and the group head out to Professor Oak's lab. They find that Gary is also visiting. After comparing the two boys' Pokédexes, he concludes that Ash has seen more Pokémon, but Gary has caught more Pokémon! Oak informs Ash that the Pokémon League is only once a year, and happening in two months. They go into the Pokéball room, to see all the Pokémon of the people of Pallet town, and notice all 20 of Ash's Safari balls. These are the Tauros he caught in the Safari Zone. Anyway, they go out to see all the places where the Professor raises and studies Pokémon. Ash and Gary decide to have a battle, but are interuppted by Team Rocket. Oak is impressed by Meowth's talking, but as soon as they try to steal Pokémon, Ash's Tauros run by, trampling and blasting Team Rocket into the air. Oak tells Ash that he is responsible for saving Oak's lab, as they were his Tauros, but he is also responsible for reparing the fence, which the Tauros trampled over.
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#20 - It's Mr. Mime Time
Season 1 - Episode 64
The group is getting closer and closer to Pallet. Just as Ash is running towards home, he crashes into a wall. The wall is totally invisible, created by a Mr. Mime. Just then, a girl from the circus shows up to try to catch Mr. Mime. Ash protests that he was going to catch it, but Brock holds him back. The Mr. Mime gets away. They arrive back at the circus, where their Mr. Mime is incredibly lazy sitting around and eating snacks. They dress Ash up as a Mr. Mime to be in the show, hoping to make Mr. Mime jealous of Ash and try to do better. Team Rocket swoop in, and steal Ash, thinking it's Mr. Mime. Meanwhile, Ash's mom brings Brock and Misty to her house. Just as they are leaving, Mr. Mime comes knocking on the window. Ash's mom thinks it's Ash, and brings him in for a snack. Ash then arrives in the Meowth balloon he stole from Team Rocket, and comes home. His mom then realizes that it was a real Mr. Mime, and then Ash asks Mr. Mime to help him. Ash's mom asks Mr. Mime to help Ash and it agrees. Later, Team Rocket burst out with a tank trying to steal the Pokémon from the circus. Mr. Mime builds a wall to stop them. They turn around, and the circus' Mr. Mime builds a wall to stop them. Eventually surrounding them, they try to escape but end up blasting themselves off again...
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#21 - Clefairy Tales
Season 1 - Episode 62
Jigglypuff is taking a walk through the woods, singing its favorite song. A Caterpie and Pidgey fall out of the trees, and Jigglypuff draws on their faces only to be knocked out with a tea pot. When Jigglypuff gets back up, it discovers a space ship crashed in the woods. Some Clefairy come out, the leader with a flower on its head. Meanwhile, the gang are enjoying some ice cream, just as they spot a Clefairy. They chase after it while their stuff is stolen. They report this to Officer Jenny, and they find out lots of people have had their stuff stolen. They meet a guy named Oswald, who thinks aliens have stolen their stuff. Just then, two mysterious beings land and take Pikachu. It's Jessie and James, being lifted with a crane by Meowth. Ash stops them, only to have Pikachu taken by a Clefairy. They follow it into a manhole, which leads to an underground cave. They find a new spaceship the Clefairy are building, which is about to launch. They board the ship to find Pikachu behind glass. They plan to use Pikachu to power their space ship. The Clefairy jump in to guard. Then, Jigglypuff walks in on the whole scene, walks up to one of the Clefairy, and Jigglypuff whacks the Clefairy. The battle begins. Jigglypuff slaps around all the Clefairy knocking them all out. Jigglypuff then finds the master control room, and so does Oswald. Jigglypuff slaps around the master Clefairy, and the Clefairy puts up a good fight, slapping back. Oswald fiddles with the control, and breaks it off. Jigglypuff grabs it, and starts singing. As everyone is asleep, the rocket blasts off. Pikachu is hit in the nose with a mallet, which startles him, and then Pikachu's electric shock begins to power the space ship. In mid-air Team Rocket try to abandon the ship, but they are on the wrong side and break off to crash into the land. Ash and the group manage to use Bulbasaur to wrap its vines around the point of a skyscraper, and they swing to safety. The ship soon crashes in the woods, and Oswald
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#22 - Pokémon Emergency!
Season 1 - Episode 2
Finally arrived in Viridian City, Ash is cornered by Officer Jenny who asks why he is carrying Pikachu instead of having it in a Pokéball. He explains that Pikachu doesn't like Pokéballs and shows her his Pokédex proving that he is one of the Pallet Town Trainers. Jenny takes Ash to the Pokémon Center where Nurse Joy begins treatment on the injured Pikachu. Before Pikachu's treatment finishes, however, the Center is attacked by two members of Team Rocket, an evil organization. Ash and Pikachu fend off Team Rocket and head to the Viridian Forest with Misty in tow because of her fried bike.
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#23 - Ash Catches a Pokémon
Season 1 - Episode 3
Ash, Pikachu and Misty have entered the Viridian Forest. Ash has spotted a Caterpie and thrown a Pokéball at it. Capturing it, Ash is overjoyed at his first catch. Misty, however, hates bugs and screams every time it comes near her. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is following them, ready for a fresh attempt at capturing Pikachu. Ash decides to capture another Pokémon, and manages to get a Pidgeotto. Can he, Misty, and his Pokémon, fend off Team Rocket again?
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#24 - Showdown in Pewter City
Season 1 - Episode 5
Ash meets a strange old man named Flint, who instructs him in the etiquette of Pokémon training and the rules of the Pokémon League. To enter the League, trainers must collect badges from gym leaders, like the gym in Pewter City run by Brock. Ash quickly challenges Brock to a match and loses. After intense and strange training from Flint, Pikachu battles again and wins, earning Ash a Boulder Badge and a new friend - Brock.
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#25 - Clefairy and The Moon Stone
Season 1 - Episode 6
Brock has joined Ash and Misty, as they continue on their path to Pokémon greatness. First, they must find a short cut to Cerulean City, through the caves of Mt. Moon. Upon reaching Mt. Moon, our heroes witness a young researcher being attacked by a large number of Zubats. With Pikachu's electric shock, they rescue the researcher at the mouth of the caves. Full of gratitude for their assistance, the researcher, Seymour, offers to guide them through the caves. Along the way they witness many injured Pokémon. The poor condition of these Pokémon has been brought about by explorers searching for a Moon Stone reported to exist somewhere within the caves of Mt. Moon. These precious stones posses the capability of 'powering up' Pokémon. As more and more people come in search of these stones, the natural habitats of the Pokémon have become worse and worse leaving the Pokemon to fight for their daily survival. With the help of a group of the Pokémon Clefairy, our heroes defeat Team Rocket and witness the legendary Moon Stone work its magic on these enchanting Pokémon.
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